From the Regional Director

This is the first of a four part message to expand upon discussions and the near unanimous consensus from our regional meeting regarding the state of our region. Proposals to "turn the tide" of nonparticipation at regionally mandated events, and the resultant dwindling of our regional fund will be discussed in depth beyond the scope of the meeting's minutes. Should we fail in these endeavors, it was generally agreed that in two years we will again be meeting, not just to elect new officers, but also to discuss the future viability of the PNW Region.

Part 1:  Apathy, Antipathy, and Elections

The combined apathy and antipathy displayed by too many key individuals within our region has deteriorated to the point where UScA mandated events are not being supported. This is too often because of de facto boycotts due to who is "hosting" a respective event. The multi-year shrinkage of the regional fund to subsidize the clubs hosting these events thus becomes the litmus of our ability to be self-sustaining. To not be self-supporting would necessarily require our eventual  dissolution and absorption into another region.
The regional meeting clearly displayed this apathy and the overall consensus that "things will never change". The very fact that I was being considered for the regional director's position over the half dozen people in the room with 25 to 30 years in the sport was testimony enough. Asked individually if each clubs representative would consider the position was met with a resounding no; asked what each representative knew about me could cumulatively be described as "not much". My paraphrased reply:

"That is absolutely pathetic. We care so little about the state of our region and who runs it that we're willing to 'settle for some schmuck from Alaska' with far less legitimacy in the sport than most in this room, and whom you know little to nothing about. And, there are three other representatives in the region who know me at least in passing, expressed unsolicited support, and yet are not present. We were absolutely in need of their presence as well if hope for an unassailable consensus was to be achieved."

It was further clearly established that interpersonal antipathy among multiple protagonists within the region was irreconcilable and detrimental to the business of the region.  Our overall region is no different than the microcosm example in Alaska where the three entities unfortunately "don't play well together," many of our Canadian friends, or multiple other UScA Regions.  The only difference between us and "them" is their ability to put differences aside to support in a sustainable way their mandated events. We, like the now defunct UScA Rocky Mountain Region, are in the process of failing as evidenced by the continued diminishment of our regional fund.
Following the aforementioned discussions, I queried those in attendance:

"What's in this for me to leave a contented time in my life with a retired wife, empty nest, ability to travel, train and trial, and de facto part time job leading to near full time dog training to accept working for you all? I have 'no proverbial dogs' in any of these fights so why should I care?"

The resounding silence that followed prompted an answer to what had become my own rhetorical question:

"I will accept this position and give it my absolute all IF the clubs in this region provide the consensus, tools, and support necessary to 'have a chance' for us to cumulatively succeed. I do not wish to be the next in a continuing line of well-intentioned good people who continue status quo into a deteriorating, unsustainable situation."

We unanimously agreed: the status quo was not going to cut it...
Best regards to all,

Kevin Nance